Help on the way for text-starved

A new service to help mobile phone owners who never receive text messages will be launched next week.

'Our service will bring relief to thousands on people who sit waiting for that text message that never comes,' said Buz Carver of Text-Starved.Com.

Mr Carver said that pilot runs of the service had changed people's lives. 'You should see the delight on the face of someone who never before got a text when their mobile starts ringing and vibrating when they're out with their mates. It's a sight to behold.'

For a monthly subscription the company sends texts at pre-arranged times to a customer's mobile. The texts purport to come from imaginary lovers, celebrities, important business contacts and friends. 'People are always impressed when a customer receives a barrage of texts. We find it increases a customer's popularity and soon he or she starts getting texts from real people,' Mr Carver explained.

'It's a cool service,' says Barry Fines (22). 'When the texts start arriving, it's great to read them - even if it's just gibberish - and just smile to yourself without saying anything. My mates were well impressed and nearly killed themselves trying to guess who was sending me the texts.'

But John Lawson (21) said he was disappointed with the service.

'It was great while I was getting the fake texts,' he said. 'But when they stopped It was devastating because I didn't get any from real people. Well, to be honest I did get one and I was really excited - until I saw it was just from my old mum.'